Wellness4Education: a new alliance to bring wellness into the classroom
27 November 2025
In Italy, only 1 in 10 adolescents aged 11 to 15 engages in sufficient physical activity. This is confirmed by the OECD’s Health at a Glance 2025 report, which paints an alarming picture: on average, across OECD countries, the percentage of adolescents who report doing at least one hour of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per day has remained unchanged since 2014, with only 15% of 15-year-olds meeting these daily guidelines. In Italy, the figure is even lower, as highlighted by the third thematic report of the 2022 HBSC-Italy Surveillance (Health Behaviour in School-aged Children), based on data collected across Italian regions from a sample of 89,321 adolescents aged 11, 13, 15 and 17.
The World Health Organization recommends at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity every day for young people aged 5 to 17, including play, sport, transport, recreation and physical education undertaken within family, school and community settings, as well as at least three weekly sessions of muscle- and bone-strengthening exercises or vigorous-intensity aerobic activity.
Against this backdrop, in the school year that will host the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, Wellness Foundation is launching Wellness4Education, a free educational programme aimed at lower secondary schools nationwide. Promoted as part of the Milano Cortina 2026 Gen26 Education Programme, with the patronage of the Italian WHO Healthy Cities Network and the support of Technogym, the project is delivered through the Educazione Digitale platform, recognised by the Italian Ministry of Education.
“Since 2003, we have been promoting the culture and benefits of the Wellness lifestyle across all areas of society, firmly believing that well-being pays off for everyone,” says Nerio Alessandri, founder of Wellness Foundation and Technogym. “Building on over twenty years of experience in Romagna, which included numerous school-based projects, with Wellness4Education we are renewing our commitment to fostering a widespread, sustainable, and accessible culture of well-being, starting with younger generations.”
Wellness4Education was created with the goal of educating students about well-being and healthy lifestyles, raising awareness among teachers and providing practical tools to help students develop self-awareness, autonomy, and healthy habits in their daily lives. At its core is the fundamental idea that health is built every day, starting from educational settings, through conscious choices that engage the body, mind, relationships, and environment.
“Promoting a culture of health among younger generations means fostering skills and behaviours that last a lifetime,” says Lamberto Bertolè, President of the Italian WHO Healthy Cities Network. “Through this collaboration, the Healthy Cities Network aims to support the rollout of the Wellness4Education educational pathway, because investing in health education at school is one of the most effective, equitable and long-lasting strategies to improve a community’s well-being.”
Domenico De Maio, Education and Culture Director, Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026: “Ensuring the best quality of life for young people means recognising sport as a central pillar in education and personal development. With Wellness4Education, we aim to strengthen the role of schools as spaces of well-being and awareness, reminding everyone that learning should never come at the expense of movement: growing up healthy and active is the foundation of every educational journey. The synergy between institutions, teachers and the wider community is essential to make this commitment concrete and long-lasting. This project represents a key element of the Milano Cortina 2026 legacy: investing in the well-being of younger generations means building a legacy of health, inclusion and sustainability for the entire country.”
In an era marked by sedentary behavior, hyperconnectivity, and poor dietary habits, the project aims to instill the culture of Wellness in younger generations, encompassing regular physical activity, balanced and mindful nutrition, a positive mental approach, and constructive, respectful relationships.
Through Wellness4Education, schools become a privileged space for holistic growth, where students—supported by teachers and other key adults—learn to take care of themselves throughout the day: in the classroom, while studying, at home, and during leisure time.
